Aiken Animal Shelter & Control: Adoption Hours 2026
If you searched for Aiken animal shelter, the main county shelter route is Aiken County Animal Shelter at 333 Wire Road, Aiken, SC 29801. The shelter is part of Aiken County government, while animal enforcement complaints are handled through the County Code Enforcement / Animal Enforcement route.
This guide separates adoption, animal-control complaints, City of Aiken routing, lost and found pets, surrender appointments, bite and rabies reporting, community-cat/TNR help, foster/volunteer support and official links so you can act without calling the wrong office.
County Shelter
Aiken County Animal Shelter provides care for animals brought in by citizens and animals impounded by Animal Enforcement Officers. The county page describes it as a division under the Administrator’s Office.
Animal Enforcement
Animal Enforcement is the complaint-driven route for injured and stray animals, wellbeing checks, abuse or neglect, owner surrenders, dog bite or attack cases, cruelty concerns, barking complaints and tethering complaints.
Independent Guide
Animal-Shelter.org is an independent informational guide. It is not Aiken County, City of Aiken, Aiken Department of Public Safety, Aiken County Sheriff’s Office, South Carolina DPH, FOTAS, SPCA Albrecht or emergency dispatch.
Start With the Right Aiken Animal Help Route
Aiken animal questions depend on the exact location and situation. The county shelter is the adoption and shelter route. County Animal Enforcement handles many unincorporated-county complaints. City of Aiken animal issues may route through Public Safety or SPCA Albrecht depending on the situation.
Aiken Animal Shelter Adoption Hours 2026
Aiken County and FOTAS list the same public adoption window for the shelter. Appointments are encouraged, especially when you are coming for one specific dog or cat.
| Day / service | Current listed hours | Planning note |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Adoptions 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. | Call first if you want one specific pet. |
| Tuesday | Adoptions 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. | Bring ID, payment and safe transport. |
| Wednesday | Adoptions 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. | Ask about current adoption specials before checkout. |
| Thursday | Adoptions 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. | Schedule enough time to meet the animal calmly. |
| Friday | Adoptions 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. | Good weekday visit window before weekend demand. |
| Saturday | Adoptions 11:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. | Shorter weekend window; avoid arriving near closing. |
| Citizen stray intake | Monday–Friday, 12:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m. | Use for citizen stray intake, not normal adoption browsing. |
| Owner surrender | By appointment only | Call 803-642-1537, prompt #7. |
How Adoption Works at Aiken County Animal Shelter
A good shelter visit starts before you arrive. Pets can be adopted, transferred, placed in foster or temporarily unavailable. Use official listings and call first when your trip depends on one animal.
Check current adoptable pets
Use the official County/FOTAS adoption route and write down the pet’s name, species, photo, listing notes and any ID shown.
Call if you are coming for one pet
Appointments are encouraged. Call 803-642-1537 or use FOTAS adoption support if you want help before driving to Wire Road.
Visit during adoption hours
Plan Monday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Meet the animal in person
Spend time with the pet and ask about personality, health notes, home fit, children, other pets, training and first-week care.
Confirm fee and inclusions
Ask whether a monthly special applies and confirm what is included before payment.
Bring safe transport
Bring a carrier for cats and a secure leash/collar or vehicle plan for dogs. Do not plan a loose ride home.
Aiken Animal Shelter Adoption Fees
The current main County shelter page and FOTAS shelter-pets page list low adoption fees, while some older/lookup County snippets may still show higher figures. Use the current public fee below for planning, then confirm at the shelter before payment.
| Fee / category | Current main-page amount | Important note |
|---|---|---|
| Dog adoption | $35 | Monthly specials may vary. Confirm the live fee at the shelter. |
| Cat adoption | $10 | Listed as including spay/neuter, microchip and rabies shot. |
| Older/alternate County lookup references | May show $70 dogs / $35 cats | Treat as a fee conflict and confirm before payment. |
| Monthly specials | May vary | FOTAS and County pages mention discounts or monthly specials. |
What the Adoption Fee Includes
FOTAS and County adoption information describe shelter pets as altered, vaccinated, rabies-vaccinated and microchipped. Ask staff to confirm the exact record for the individual pet you are adopting.
Spay / neuter
Adoption information says animals are spayed or neutered before adoption.
Vaccinations
FOTAS says adopted animals are up to date on shots, including rabies. Ask for the written vaccine record before leaving.
Microchip
Adoption information lists microchip inclusion. Confirm registration steps so the chip points to your current contact details.
Emergency & Important Aiken Animal Contacts
Use the route that matches the actual situation. Adoption questions, animal enforcement complaints, City of Aiken calls, wildlife nuisance, bite reporting and immediate public-safety emergencies are not the same.
| Contact | Number / route | Use this for |
|---|---|---|
| Aiken County Animal Shelter | 803-642-1537 | Adoption, shelter hours, owner-surrender appointment routing, citizen stray intake questions and shelter-specific help. |
| Aiken County Code Enforcement dispatch | 803-502-9000 ext. 3704 | County complaint routing for animal enforcement, litter, property nuisance and zoning concerns. |
| Aiken County Animal Enforcement | Start with County shelter / Code Enforcement route | Injured or stray animals, wellbeing checks, abuse/neglect, dog bite or attack cases, cruelty concerns, barking complaints and tethering complaints in county jurisdiction. |
| City of Aiken Public Safety / Animal Control routing | 803-642-7620 | City of Aiken animal-control concerns, lost/injured animals, neglect reports or community-cat routing inside city limits. |
| Aiken County Sheriff non-emergency | 803-648-6811 | Non-emergency law-enforcement / dispatch routing when the situation is not an immediate emergency. |
| Immediate public-safety emergency | 911 | Active attack, serious injury, immediate danger, severe bite or another urgent public-safety emergency. |
| South Carolina DPH Aiken rabies contact | 803-642-1687 | Animal bite or possible rabies exposure reporting during normal rabies-contact office routing. |
| SC DPH nights, weekends or holidays | 888-847-0902, option 2 | Rabies or animal-bite public-health reporting after hours, on weekends or on holidays. |
| SCDNR wildlife nuisance route | 803-955-4000 | Wildlife nuisance concerns that County Animal Enforcement says are directed to South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. |
| Dead animal on state road | 803-641-7665 | Deceased animals on state roads, routed to SCDOT by County Animal Enforcement guidance. |
| Dead animal on county road | 803-642-1532 | Deceased animals on county roads, routed to Roads and Bridges by County guidance. |
Aiken County Animal Control / Animal Enforcement Routing
Aiken County’s Animal Enforcement page is clear that animal complaints are handled under County Code Enforcement. The correct route depends on whether the issue is in unincorporated county jurisdiction, City of Aiken limits, North Augusta, or another municipality.
County-area animal complaints
Use the County Animal Enforcement route for injured and stray animals, welfare checks, abuse or neglect, dog bite/attack cases, cruelty concerns, barking and tethering complaints when county jurisdiction applies.
Code Enforcement dispatch
County Code Enforcement says dispatch manages incoming calls and routes animal enforcement, litter, nuisance and zoning concerns to the appropriate officer.
Wildlife nuisance
County Animal Enforcement says wildlife nuisance concerns are directed to SCDNR at 803-955-4000.
City of Aiken Animal Route: Do Not Confuse It With the County Shelter
Inside the City of Aiken, animal-control routing may differ from unincorporated Aiken County. City of Aiken Public Safety lists 803-642-7620, and SPCA Albrecht says City of Aiken animal concerns such as lost/injured animals, neglect or community-cat routing should start with that number.
City limits matter
If the animal issue happened inside City of Aiken limits, start with City of Aiken Public Safety / Animal Control routing rather than assuming the county shelter is the enforcement office.
SPCA Albrecht is separate
SPCA Albrecht is a private animal-welfare organization. It states that it accepts stray animals on behalf of City of Aiken Animal Control because the City does not have its own government shelter.
Call before moving an animal
A stray animal’s correct route depends on where the animal was found, not where the finder lives or which shelter is closest.
Animal Bites and Rabies Reporting in Aiken County
Animal bites are public-health events, not only shelter paperwork. South Carolina DPH requires animal-bite reporting, and Aiken County’s ordinance describes animal-control and health-department involvement.
Report bites to DPH
SC DPH says animal bites or possible rabies exposures should be reported through the county rabies contact during business hours, or the after-hours DPH line on nights, weekends and holidays.
Ten-day bite confinement
Aiken County ordinance says an animal that has bitten a person must be confined for at least 10 days, with Animal Control and the Health Department involved in supervision.
Do not remove or kill the animal
The County ordinance says a suspected rabid animal or animal that has bitten a person should not be removed from the jurisdiction without written health-department permission.
Lost or Found Pet in Aiken
Lost-pet work is time-sensitive. Start with the jurisdiction where the pet was last seen or where the animal was found. Then check both shelter listings and local reporting routes repeatedly.
If your pet is missing
- Call Aiken County Animal Shelter at 803-642-1537 if your pet may be in county shelter care.
- Check the official FOTAS / shelter adoptable and animal listing routes.
- Call City of Aiken Public Safety at 803-642-7620 if the pet disappeared inside city limits.
- Contact SPCA Albrecht if the pet may have been routed through City of Aiken intake.
- Keep recent photos, microchip number, rabies certificate, vet records and proof of ownership ready.
- Search nearby sheds, porches, garages, storm drains, wooded edges and quiet hiding spaces.
If you found an animal
- Do not assume which shelter takes the pet; call based on the found location.
- Check safely for a tag, collar, rabies tag or owner phone number.
- Ask nearby homes before moving the pet far from the found area.
- Use citizen stray intake hours for county shelter intake questions: Monday–Friday, noon–4:00 p.m.
- Ask a veterinarian, shelter or animal-control route about a microchip scan when safe.
- Use emergency routing for injured, aggressive, traffic-endangered or bite/rabies-related situations.
Citizen Stray Intake: Use the Right Window
Aiken County lists citizen stray intake separately from adoption hours. Do not bring a found animal late in the day without calling first, especially if the animal is injured, aggressive or found outside county jurisdiction.
Listed intake hours
Citizen stray intake is listed Monday through Friday from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m..
Call before arrival
Call the shelter if you found the animal near a city boundary, outside Aiken County, after hours, or in an unsafe situation.
Do not risk injury
Do not put an aggressive or severely injured animal into your vehicle without official guidance.
Owner Surrender at Aiken County Animal Shelter
Owner surrender is not a normal walk-in drop-off. The shelter directory says owner surrender is by appointment through 803-642-1537, prompt #7.
| Surrender item | Listed detail | Important note |
|---|---|---|
| Appointment route | Call 803-642-1537, prompt #7 | Do not arrive with an owned pet without confirming process and space. |
| General surrender fee | County pages show surrender-fee references that may vary by appointment/status | Call for current fee because pages show several categories and exceptions. |
| Female with litter | County page lists separate exception fees | Confirm live fee and intake availability before transport. |
| Bite-case quarantine | Additional fee may apply | Bite cases may involve health-department / animal-control rules. |
Community Cats and TNR in Aiken County
Aiken County says it passed a Return to Field resolution in 2016, referred to as a TNR program. Community or feral cats trapped by Aiken County citizens may be brought to the shelter by appointment for free fixing and then returned to field.
Appointment matters
Do not trap and arrive without instructions. Call first so the shelter can explain the current TNR appointment process.
City colonies may route differently
City of Aiken TNR/community-cat concerns may route through City Animal Control and SPCA Albrecht.
Do not separate kittens too fast
If kittens look healthy and mom may return, call for guidance before removing them from the area.
Foster and Volunteer Help Through FOTAS
The County page points foster and volunteer opportunities to FOTAS. FOTAS describes itself as a nonprofit volunteer organization supporting Aiken County Animal Shelter.
FOTAS support
FOTAS supports shelter programs, adoption, foster care, volunteer help and animal-welfare efforts connected to the county shelter.
Doggie Days Out
FOTAS promotes Doggie Days Out, where approved participants can give a shelter dog time away from the kennel.
FOTAS contact
FOTAS lists info@fotasaiken.org and 803-514-4313 for organization contact.
Veterinary Reality Check: No Public Vet-Hospital Claim
This page does not add fake VeterinaryCare, Hospital, MedicalClinic, Physician or veterinarian schema. Aiken County and FOTAS adoption information describe spay/neuter, rabies shot, microchip and vaccines as part of adoption, and County pages mention low-cost spay/neuter vouchers through participating vet clinics. That is not the same as a public walk-in veterinary hospital operated from this page.
No invented doctor names
No official public veterinarian roster or public appointment schedule was verified for this page, so no doctor schema is added.
Spay/neuter vouchers
County shelter information mentions a low-cost spay/neuter voucher program for qualified Aiken County citizens through participating veterinary clinics.
Emergency pet illness
If your owned pet has a life-threatening medical problem, contact a licensed emergency veterinarian. Do not wait for shelter adoption hours.
Public Staff Listing: Bobby Arthurs
Animal Shelter Manager
Aiken County’s staff directory lists Bobby Arthurs as Animal Shelter Manager. This is an administrative shelter listing, not a public veterinarian appointment schedule.
Before You Visit 333 Wire Road
Adoption checklist
- Check current adoptable pets before leaving home.
- Call or schedule if you want to meet one specific animal.
- Bring valid photo ID, payment and safe transport.
- Bring household decision-makers if possible.
- Ask about current adoption specials and final total before payment.
- Ask for vaccination, rabies, microchip and spay/neuter records.
Lost / found / control checklist
- Use the exact found/lost address to determine county vs city route.
- Bring photos, microchip information and vet records if reclaiming.
- Do not bring a stray outside intake hours without calling first.
- Use City of Aiken routing for city-limit concerns.
- Use DPH rabies reporting for bites or possible rabies exposure.
- Use 911 for immediate danger or serious injury.
Simple Call Scripts
When you are worried about a pet, clear details help staff route the call faster.
Adoption
Hi, I am interested in [pet name or listing ID]. Is the pet still
available, what is the current adoption fee or special, and should I
schedule an appointment before coming to 333 Wire Road?
Lost pet
Hi, my [dog/cat] is missing from [exact location]. The pet is
[description], has [microchip/tag/rabies info], and may be in
[county/city] jurisdiction. What should I check next?
Found animal
Hi, I found a [dog/cat] at [exact address or cross streets].
The animal is [safe/injured/aggressive]. Is this county, City of
Aiken, or another municipal animal-control route?
Bite / rabies concern
Hi, I need to report an animal bite or possible rabies exposure at
[location]. The animal is [owned/stray/wild/unknown], the person
bitten is [adult/child], and medical care is [needed/underway/not yet].
Which report route should I use now?
Map: Aiken County Animal Shelter
Use this map for the official county shelter address: 333 Wire Road, Aiken, SC 29801. Confirm hours before driving, especially for citizen stray intake, owner surrender or a specific adoptable pet.
Official Aiken Resources
Use official sources for current hours, pet availability, fees, forms, animal-control routing, bite reporting and public-health instructions.
Aiken Animal Shelter FAQ
What is the official Aiken animal shelter?
The main official county shelter route is Aiken County Animal Shelter, located at 333 Wire Road, Aiken, SC 29801.
What is the Aiken County Animal Shelter phone number?
The main shelter phone number is 803-642-1537.
What are Aiken Animal Shelter adoption hours?
Current listed adoption hours are Monday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
What are citizen stray intake hours?
Citizen stray intake is listed Monday through Friday from noon to 4:00 p.m.
Do I need an appointment to adopt?
Appointments are encouraged. FOTAS says people can call the shelter or email FOTAS to schedule adoption help.
How much does it cost to adopt a dog at Aiken County Animal Shelter?
The current main County shelter page and FOTAS shelter-pets page list dog adoption at $35, with specials possible. Some older/lookup county references may show different amounts, so confirm before payment.
How much does it cost to adopt a cat at Aiken County Animal Shelter?
The current main County shelter page and FOTAS shelter-pets page list cat adoption at $10, with spay/neuter, microchip and rabies shot included. Confirm the live fee before payment.
What is included with adoption?
FOTAS adoption information says animals are spayed or neutered, up to date on shots including rabies, and microchipped.
Who handles county animal-control complaints?
Aiken County Animal Enforcement, under Code Enforcement routing, handles complaints such as injured and stray animals, wellbeing checks, abuse or neglect, dog bite/attack cases, cruelty, barking and tethering complaints.
What is the Aiken County Code Enforcement dispatch number?
Aiken County Code Enforcement dispatch is listed at 803-502-9000, extension 3704.
What number should I call inside City of Aiken limits?
For City of Aiken animal-control routing, use City of Aiken Public Safety at 803-642-7620. For immediate danger or serious injury, call 911.
Does the City of Aiken have its own government shelter?
SPCA Albrecht says it accepts stray animals on behalf of City of Aiken Animal Control because the City does not have its own government shelter.
Who do I call for an animal bite or possible rabies exposure?
SC DPH lists animal-bite and rabies reporting through county rabies contacts during business hours and 888-847-0902, option 2, on nights, weekends or holidays. For Aiken County rabies contact routing, use the DPH Aiken number 803-642-1687 when applicable.
How long is bite quarantine in Aiken County?
Aiken County ordinance says an animal that has bitten a person must be confined for at least 10 days, with animal-control and health-department involvement.
Where do wildlife nuisance calls go?
Aiken County Animal Enforcement says wildlife nuisance concerns are directed to South Carolina Department of Natural Resources at 803-955-4000.
How do I surrender an owned pet?
Owner surrender is by appointment. Call 803-642-1537 and use prompt #7 before bringing an owned pet to the shelter.
Does Aiken County have a TNR program?
The County shelter information says Aiken County passed a Return to Field / TNR resolution in 2016, and community or feral cats may be brought by appointment for free fixing before return to field.
Who supports foster and volunteer opportunities?
The County page points volunteer and foster opportunities to Friends of the Animal Shelter, also known as FOTAS.
Who is the Animal Shelter Manager?
Aiken County’s staff directory lists Bobby Arthurs as Animal Shelter Manager.
Is Animal-Shelter.org the official Aiken County website?
No. Animal-Shelter.org is an independent informational guide. Use official Aiken County, City of Aiken, FOTAS, SPCA Albrecht and SC DPH sources for live instructions, current fees, closures and reporting rules.
Animal Shelter Action Planner: Lost Pet, Found Pet, Adoption, Reclaim & Surrender Helper
Use this free tool to create a practical next-step plan before visiting or contacting an animal shelter, humane society, rescue, or animal control agency. It does not search a live shelter database, but it helps you prepare the right documents, questions, safety steps, and official-source searches.
Build a USA-wide shelter action plan
Select your situation and location. The tool will create a general action plan, search links, call questions, and a copyable checklist.
Lost pet recovery checklist
Check the steps you have completed. This helps you stay organized during the first urgent hours and days.
Found pet safety decision helper
Use this when you find a stray or loose pet and need a safe next step.
Adoption readiness checker
This helps adopters prepare before visiting a shelter or rescue. It is not a guarantee of approval.
Pet reclaim document checklist
If your pet may be at a shelter, prepare proof before visiting. Exact requirements and fees vary by agency.
Owner surrender preparation helper
Surrender rules vary. Many shelters require appointments, proof of residence, behavior/medical information, and may offer alternatives.
Animal control contact decision helper
Choose the situation and get a general USA-wide contact path. Local rules may differ.
Adoption and first-month budget planner
This is a planning guide, not a shelter fee database. Always confirm adoption fees and included services with the shelter.
Your generated shelter plan
Your action plan, search links, call script, checklist, or budget guide will appear here.
Start with the Planner tab
Select your state, city/county/ZIP, pet type, and goal. The tool will create a practical USA-wide shelter action plan.
Privacy note: this tool runs in your browser. It does not send your entries to animal-shelter.org.